Jesse Caron
Antioch, Tennessee, USA

Inquiry: Pâqid Yirmәyâhu, ha-Tzadiq,

This week, I learned from the parasha - particularly your explanation - that the Khittim regarded Avraham as associable with their idols - wood, stone and otherwise, while he in no way accepted their esteem. His self-description as "geir v'toshav" - in the xtian english, of course - always seemed a token (not to say, empty) expression of humble reception, rather than tactful and pointed rejection of their misplaced and misleading praise. I have long seen this passage as recounting their recognition, or realization, of his being blessed/chosen by HaShem in spite of their idolatry, rather than their attempting to absorb Avraham into their pantheon(?) in utter ignorance of his true identity/heritage.

Readers should also view the video included in this week's pâ•râsh•âhꞋ .

A constantly recurring theme is goy•imꞋ  attempting to assimilate Yi•s^ә•râ•eilꞋ  followed by our refusal—instigating misojudaism.

I also learned, through your commentary and contrary to my former impression, that Efron ben Zokhar had no intention of giving the cave for Sarah's burial to Avraham for free. I had thought the story a sweet one because of the otherwise apparent charitable extension by Efron, only soon sullied by a numbingly mundane business transaction. The whole situation seemed out of sorts, and very disappointing because of the "let down". I now see that, even in his grief (among his greatest), Avraham had to endure the vulgarities of goy culture, and this passage illustrates no break in that standard.

2011.11.13, 2029  Y^әru•shâ•laꞋ yim Universal Time

I have a question about M^әlâkh•imꞋ  ÂlꞋ ëph 1:6 -

וְלֹא-עֲצָבוֹ אָבִיו מִיָּמָיו לֵאמֹר, מַדּוּעַ כָּכָה עָשִׂיתָ; וְגַם-הוּא טוֹב-תֹּאַר מְאֹד, וְאֹתוֹ יָלְדָה אַחֲרֵי אַבְשָׁלוֹם

Is this saying that Aviyahu's behavior was inexplicable in light of his upbringing? I don't know the word " 'atzavo " well enough, but suspect that "grief" (as per mechon-mamre.org MT/JPS) - or severity in any form, wasn't necessary - especially since it specifies verbal rebuke and not physical punishment. I assume by this that David was attentive and thorough in child-rearing. If "v'gam hu tov to'ar me'od" is describing Aviyahu's general disposition (?תֹּאַר), rather than David's, and his being born after Avshalom indicates that he had the negative example to learn from, then his actions would seem anomalous.

Where did you get "Aviyahu."

עֲצָבוֹ is merely עֲצָב + pronominal suffix וֹ.

תֹּאַר, deriving from רָאָה (cf. Klein, op. cit.), describes physical appearance that is seen by the eyes; not general disposition, character, etc. In today's vernacular, girls would say "He was hot!"

This passage states that A•don•iꞋ yâhꞋ  was spoiled. Dâ•widꞋ  ha-MëlꞋ ëkh never gave him any grief, questioning him about anything he did, his entire life.

To have made such a spoiled prince king would have been a disaster for Yi•s^ә•râ•eilꞋ .

As the Artscroll Stone Edition (a required text) notes, stating that he was born after Ävshâ•lomꞋ  merely clarified that A•don•iꞋ yâhꞋ , being junior to his deceased brothers, was next in succession to the throne.